A client asked this question at the end of her intuitive coaching session this morning. She's a diligent "seeker" who's been on a spiritual path for years. I assigned her this homework: Throughout the next week, I asked her to observe any thoughts that pop in, ones that remind her to work harder to reach God.
For centuries, we've been taught that everything we need — including (and especially) our connection to a Higher Power — is out of reach. We memorize spiritual homilies, such as "God is everywhere," while truly believing that "he" (a concept created in man's image) — is out of reach.
Source energy never went anywhere. It's all a matter of what we do with our thoughts. Our thoughts often flow from specific beliefs. In turn, a belief about something leaves us with a certain perception, acting as a filter that influences how we see things.
For example, holding a perception that a Higher Power is "out of reach" can trigger thoughts that result from the belief that we need to become "more spiritual" to get closer to God. Entertaining that very thought itself shuts the door on that illuminating, inspiring, healing, infinitely creative, guiding force — the very minute we entertain it.
So I continued instructing my client, "Once you catch and observe that old, reflexive thought-response to an old belief (that-God-is-out-of-reach), THEN consciously, intentionally shift to a new thought-stream: The realization that in that very same moment! — you've just let God in!"
Practice shifting to a new, intentional thought-stream the moment you observe an old, reflexive thought-pattern (that often follows a certain belief), and you'll find that the new thought pattern will eventually override the old — and bring about an ongoing shift in perception.
Reminder: Shift in perception = shift in reality.